"Be Cool Bandit" arrest made in National City

A 45-year-old man who authorities believe is the “Be Cool Bandit” was arrested Monday morning by National City police. The thief is suspected of 10 armed robberies and other crimes since May.

Police Sgt. Julian Villagomez said officers spotted Elvin Foster Jr. about 9 a.m. near a home on Euclid Avenue near Plaza Boulevard.

Authorities around the county had developed evidence based on DNA and fingerprints taken from some of the crime scenes that led them to Foster, and they had been staking out several places he was believed to be staying.

Following Foster’s arrest, a number of items that connect him to some of the robberies was recovered, Villagomez said.

The “Be Cool Bandit” was so named because the robber had uttered those words to one of his early victims, Villagomez said.

The robberies began on May 3 and occurred at gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants in San Diego, El Cajon and National City. The most recent happened Sunday night, when a gunman held up a National City 7-Eleven on 18th Street near Palm Avenue.